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Science Curriculum, Assessment & Professional Development

The STEM Coach provides specialist support for secondary science departments, combining current classroom practice with experience in science leadership, curriculum design, assessment, examining and teacher development.

Support is practical, collaborative and tailored to the needs of each school.

Whether you are reviewing an established curriculum, reconsidering your approach to assessment or simply want an experienced external perspective on your science provision, the aim is simple: to identify what is working well, what could be strengthened, and where your time and resources will have the greatest impact.

Science Curriculum & Assessment Review

An independent review of your secondary science provision.

Science curricula rarely stand still. Specifications change, schemes of work evolve, assessments accumulate and departments adapt to changing cohorts, staffing and priorities.

Over time, it can become difficult to step back and ask whether curriculum, assessment and classroom practice are still working together as effectively as they could.

The Science Curriculum & Assessment Review provides that external perspective.

What does the review consider?

Every school is different, so the precise focus is agreed in advance.

The review can consider:

• Curriculum sequencing and progression

• Coherence across Biology, Chemistry and Physics

• Progression from KS3 into GCSE and, where appropriate, A Level

• The purpose, design and frequency of assessment

• Alignment between the taught curriculum and what is assessed

• Use of examination and assessment materials

• Practical and disciplinary science

• Challenge and accessibility

• Departmental priorities and curriculum workload

• Co-curricular STEM provision, enrichment and opportunities beyond the classroom

• Partnerships with universities, employers, professional organisations and the wider STEM community

The review is developmental rather than inspection-led. It is not about producing a long list of faults or imposing a particular curriculum model.

Instead, it provides another experienced pair of eyes: recognising effective practice, asking useful questions and identifying a manageable number of areas where change could make a meaningful difference.

What's included?

Before the visit

Relevant curriculum and assessment materials are reviewed in advance. These might include curriculum maps, schemes of work, assessment calendars and examples of current assessments.

This allows the time in school to focus on the department rather than simply gathering information.

A full day in school

The day is shaped around the agreed focus of the review and may include:

• Discussion with the Head of Science and relevant senior leaders

• Curriculum and assessment review

• Conversations with teaching staff

• Sampling student work

• Short learning visits where appropriate

• Consideration of progression between key stages

• Discussion of current departmental priorities and challenges

Feedback and recommendations

Initial findings are discussed at the end of the visit.

Following the review, the school receives a concise written report identifying:

• Strengths and effective practice

• Key findings

• Areas for development

• A small number of prioritised recommendations

• Practical next steps

The intention is to produce something useful and actionable, rather than a lengthy report that sits in a folder.

£595 all-inclusive

The Science Curriculum & Assessment Review includes pre-visit document review, a full day in school, consultation with relevant staff, verbal feedback, and a written review with prioritised recommendations.

Travel within Yorkshire and the Humber is included.

There is no requirement to purchase any further support following the review.

Follow-up support

Where a review identifies an area in which further support would be valuable, The STEM Coach can also work with schools on a bespoke basis.

This might include curriculum development, assessment design, departmental professional development or coaching for science teachers and leaders.

Any follow-up work is agreed separately and designed around the needs of the school.

Start a conversation

If you are considering reviewing your science curriculum or assessment approach, or would simply like to discuss whether an external review could be useful for your department, please get in touch.

An initial conversation is informal and carries no obligation to book.

Enquire about a Science Curriculum & Assessment Review